Bicycle.



No. 644,686. Patented Mar. 6, |900. E. M. BUNYAN & M. G. POND.

BICYCLE.

(Application Bled Oct. 4, 1897.)

4 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

We 2z 222m". 77d M1120:

Zz'nesse s,

Patented Mgr. (zi, |900.4 E. M. HUNYAN &. M. G. POND.

B I C Y C L E (Application Bled Oct. 4, 1897.)

4 Sheets-Sheelt 2 (No Model.)

No. 644,686. Patented Mar. 6, |900. E. M. RUNYAN &. G. POND. BICYCLE.

(Application filed Oct. 4, 1897.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Shee 3. j

@wf/M f man. D. c. mi Nonms PETERS o0.. Fumo-LITRO., wAsl-lm Patnted Mar. 6,1900. E. M. RUNYAN M. G. POND.

BICYCLE.

(Applcmg med oct. 4, 1897.)

(No Model.)

Zz'nesses.

A .c. TH: Nonms paens oo., PHOTO-uwe., WASHINGTON, n

EDVARD M. RUNYAN AND MERRITT G. POND, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MIN- NESOTA, ASSIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE AMERICAN TIMBER BROKERS, OF SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN, AND DU- IJUTH, MINNESOTA.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming-.part of Letters Patent No. 644,686, dated March 6, 1900.

Application led October 4, 1897.

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known thatwe, EDWARD M. RUNYAN and MERRITT G. POND, citizens of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycles; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention has for its object to generally improve the construction of bicycles of the so-called safety type, but is especially directed to the production of such a machine which is capable of very high speed and great power.

To the ends above noted and others hereinafter noted our invention consists of thenovel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described, and defined in the claims.

The preferred form of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts through-A out the several views.

Figure l is a right side elevation of a bicycle constructed in accordance with our invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged View of the central portion of the bicycle shown in Fig. l, said parts being shown partly in plan and partly in horizontal section. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the skeleton seat-frame, some parts being shown in section. Fig. 4 is a detail view in right side elevation showing one of the pedals and the forward end of the connected pedal-lever. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a skeleton view, partly in rear elevation and partly in vertical section, on the line 906006 of Fig. l, some parts being shown in full and others by dotted lines. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the seat removed from the machine. Fig. 8 is a View, partly in plan and partly in horizontal section,showing the detail construction of the hub, spindle, and driving-drums of the rear or traction wheel. Fig. 9 is a transverse section taken on the line x9 x9 of Fig. 8, certain parts being broken away, so as to show other parts which lie beyond. Fig. 10 is a Serial No. 653,934. (No model.)

transverse section taken on the line 0010 x10 of Fig. 8, and Fig. 1l is a view in side elevation of a portion of the brake. l

The rigid portion of the frame is approximately diamond shape and involves the top tube u, bottom tube a', steering-head a2, seatpost orsocket-tube a3, forked backstay a4, and rear forked bottoni stay a5. The Arear ends of the prongs of the stays a4 and a5 are secured together by rear forked ends or spindle-forks a6.

` The steering-fork a7 is mounted in the steering-head a2 in the ordinary manner and is provided with handle-bars as.

a9 indicates the vertically-adjustable seatpost, which is mounted in the socket-tube a3 in the ordinary manner. The seat, to be hereinafter described, is secured to the head am of this post a9.

l) indicates the front wheel, which is mounted in the prongs of the steering-fork in the ordinary manner, and b' indicates the rear or traction wheel, which is mounted in the rear forked ends a by means which will now be described in detail.

A hollow spindle c is passed through the hub of the rear wheel b' and through the rear forked ends d and is rigidly secured to the latter by means of pairs of nuts c c2, which work with screw-threaded engagement on the ends of said spindle and clamp said forks CLG.

'The spindle c is thus held so that it cannot revolve; but it may be readily removed from working position by loosening the nuts c c2.

The'rear or traction wheel b' is provided with a barrel-like hub b2, which is expanded at its ends, as shown at b3, to form flanges, to which the spokes b4 may be attached, and to form seats in which hardened ball-runways b5 may be secured. Pawl-carrying disk-like rings f are secured on the extreme outer ends of the hub enlargements h3, as shown, by means of screw-threads f and lock-screw f2. Preferably each pawl ring or disk f is provided with an outwardly-projecting cylindrical flange f3. A series of pawlsf4 are pivoted to and carried by each ring or disk f. These pawls f4 are provided with stop projections f5, which engage with the coperating ange f3 and limit the outward movementspof said pawls, as shown in Fig. l0.

A pair of drums or hubs (7 are loosely and independently mounted on the spindle c, one just outward of each end of thehub h2. These drums or hubs g are provided in their inner and outer ends, respectively, with hardened ball-runways g and g2.

7i indicates a pair of double-faced bearingeones, which are loosely mounted on the spindle c and stand one between each coperating pair of ball-runways lfg. A single-faced bearing-cone 7L is loosely mounted on each end of the spindle e for cooperation one with each ball-runway g2. Bearing-balls h2 work between the ball-runways lf g' g2 and their respective bearing-cones.

It will be noted by reference particularly to Fig. S that the inner nuts c on the ends of the spindle c press against the outer faces of the cones 7L'. Inasmuch as the cones h and 7i are loose on the spindle, it will happen that when the cones 7L, or either one of the same, are forced inward by the nuts c' the slack will be first taken up between the ball-runways g and g'I2 of the hub g and ltheir cooperating balls and cones, and then the said double-faced cone hwill be moved inward until the proper adjustment between its inner face and coperating runway br and bearing-balls h2 is effected. In other words, the act of adjusting the outer cones 7L will cause the double-faced cones to automatically assume properly-adjusted positions. The said bearing-cones h and h' are free to revolve on the spindle c; but it is of course obvious that the friction of the balls thereon will not be sufficient to cause any such movement. However, the' doublefaced cones 7L are much more easily adjusted axially of the spindle c when loosely mounted, as above described, than they would be if held against rotary movement by means of keyand-feather engagements or similar devices. It is of course evident that when the nuts c2 are tightened, so as to clamp the forked ends a0 between the same and the nuts c', the adjustment of the cones 7L and 7i will be set or fixed.

The hubs .or drums g are provided on their inner 'extremities with ratchet-teetli, which, as shown, are formed on the periphery of a ratchet-ringf, which ring is secured to said hub by screw-threaded engagement. The ratchet-rings f6 are positioned in transverse line with the pawls f4 and are adapted to be engaged by the free ends of the same. 'lhe pawls f4 are thrown into and out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-ringsfG and are rendered silent in their action by means of split spring friction-rings. These friction-rings are angular in cross-section, or, in other words, involve a cylindrical flange portion f7 and a vertical fiange portion f8. The friction-ring is of spring metal and is sectioned,as shown at f 9. Its vertical flange portionfH works against the cooperating pawls f4 and is provided with cam-slots flo, in which pinsf11 on said pawlsf4 work. The cylindrical flangef7 of said friction-ringworks with a light friction against the concave cylindrical surface of a ledge orslioulde1f12,which is formed on the innerextremity of the cooperating hub or drum g.

The drums or hubs g are each formed with a sheave-section g3, and these sheaves g3 are provided with inwardly-projecting annular anges g4, which telescope over and run close to the corresponding annular flanges f3 of the pawl-disks f. The rear 'end of one of a pair of flexible chain connections k is rigidly secured to the bottom of each sheave g3 by means of an anchor-block 7c'. A pair of iat spirally-wound springs g5 is rigidly secured to the spindle c, one within each hub or drum g, and rigidly secured at their outer ends, one to each of said drums or hubs g. These springs g5 are so wound and applied that they will turn the drums g and sheaves g3 in a direction to wind up the chains 7; onto their respective sheaves g3.

In our improved machine we employ oscillatiug or vibrating driving-levers of the first class. These driving-levers,which are indicated at n, are pivoted one to each prong of the rear bottom stay a5 on outwardlyproject ing bearing-studs n. The inner ends of these bearing-studs n are rigidly secured to the prongs of said baekstay a, and their outer ends are suspended or braced by means of tension-rods o, secured thereto at their lower ends and secured at their upper ends to the top of the frame by means ot' a bolt o. AS shown, the tension-rods 0 are tied together at their intermediate portions by a transverse rod o2. Preferably the driving-levers n, are mounted on the bearing-studs n by meansof Vball-and-cone bearings, (indicated at n2 n3.)

Nuts u on the ends of the studs u serve to clamp the lower ends of the tension-rods o against the adjustable bearing-cones a. The forward or free ends of the chains 7o are attached to the rear ends of the driving-levers n.

Pedals a5 are pivoted one to the free end of each driving-lever n. The forward ends of the levers it are provided with stop projections n, which strike against the forward halves of the pedals a5 and limit the downward pivotal movement of the forward sides of said pedals, as indicated in the raised pedal shown in Fig. l. The said pedals are, however, free for a considerable pivotal movement in the reverse direction, so as to permit the foot and pedal to retain a substantially horizontal position when thrown into its lowermost position. (AlsoindicatedinFigl. The pedals ai are provided with toc-clips1t7,\vl1ich are in the form of skeleton like slippers. These toe-clips serve the ordinary function of preventing the rider from losing his pedals on the upward movement and also serve to keep the pedals in a horizontal position when the foot is removed and the drivin g-lever IOO IIO

held upward. Inwardly-projecting studs or stops o3 on the tension-rods o limit the downward movements of the driving-levers n.

The brake device involves as one of its elements a friction-wheel p, which is rigidly secured to or formed integral with one of the pawl-carrying disks or rings f. Preferably this friction-wheel p is formed with a face which is beveled in two directions, and, as shown, said wheel is secured to the right-hand end of the rear-wheel hub b2.

p' indicates a spring-acting supporting-arm which is provided at its forward end with a split clamp p2, by means of which it is secured to the right-hand prong of the forked stay a5, with its free end positioned directly under the friction-wheel p. To the free end of the supporting-arm p is pivoted the lower end of a segmental brake-shoe p3, which is provided with a grooved face or working surface which its the beveled face of the friction-wheel p. The lower end of said shoe p3 is provided with a stop-lugp4, which engages a stop-surface p5 on the free end of said arm p' to limit the rearward or releasing movement of said brake-shoe.

p6 indicates a bell-crank pivoted on a stud p7, projecting from the right prong of the forked stay a5. The upper arm of the bellcrank p6 is connected to the free end of the brake-shoe p3 by means of a light rod ps. The free end of the other arm of the bell-crank p6 is provided with a foot or heel piece p. This foot or heel piece p stands in such position that the rider may readily engage the same with his heel by throwing his heel inward without removing his right foot from the pedal while the same is raised. A spring p10, coiled on the stud p7, with one end secured thereto and the other end applied to the bellcrank p6, normally holds the heel-piece p9 upward to its limit and the brake-shoe p3 in its released position. The spring supporting-arm p normally holds the lower end of the shoe p3 below and away from the friction-wheel p, as shown in Fig. ll. When, however, the upper free end of the shoe is drawn forward against the friction-wheel p, the arm p' will spring and permit the entire bearing-surface of the shoe to engage said friction-wheel.

We also provide foot or heel rests which are located transversely in line with the brakeactnating heel-piece p9, or in position to be readily engaged by the riders heels when his heels are thrown inward, but without moving his feet rearward out of the toe-clips or olf from the pedals while the same are properly raised. These heel-rests are formed by a single piece of wire, which is bent at its center to form a suspending-yoke r and on each side of this yoke r is coiled in a horizontal plane to form steps or heel-rests a". The ends of the wire which form the rests r are secured, by means of rivets or otherwise, one to each prong of the stay a5. Normally the heel-piece p9 stands high enough above the right member of the heel-rests r', so that it may be engaged by the riders heels and force downward to its limit in the brake-setting action. ln this brake-setting action the rider may keep both feet on the pedals and may use his left foot on the left pedal and keep up the motion of the machine While applying the brake more or less, as may be desired. When coasting without removing the feet from the pedals, both the heels may be placed on the heelrests r', or the left heel may be placed on the left rest r and the right heel on the heel-piece p, and thus keep the machine under ready control.

In the improved seat which we preferably employ we provide a marginal wire s, which is bent to give the seat its outline. The ends of this marginal wire s form the pommel of the saddle and are provided with screwthreaded seats s', which extend in axial line witheach other. A small jack-screw 32, with right and left threads, works in the seats s' and adjustably connects the ends of the wire s. A pair of U-shaped wires s3 and s4 are pivotally connected at their ends to the marginal wire s by means of sleeves S5, formed on the ends of said U-shaped supports s3 s4 and loosely fitting said wire s. The lower and central portions of the U-shaped supports s3 s4 are clamped and held by and between a pair of blocks 1f z", and these blocks t t are in turn adapted to be clamped and held onto the head al@ of the seat-post a9 by means of a yoke t2 and set-screw t3.

By adjusting the jack-screw S2 the seatframe may be widened or narrowed to tighten the cover. As the U-shaped supports s3 s4 are pivoted to the marginal wire or frame s, the seat may be given any desired inclination or pitch when the clamp t2 t3 is loosened. When said clamp t2 f3 is tightened, the seatframe will be held rigid wherever set. The seat-frame may be provided with any suitable covering, but is preferably provided with a strong upholstered pad or cover s6.

The operation of the clutches or paWl-andratchet mechanisms under the pedalin g action is as follows: When one of the pedals is forced downward at its free end, the chain or exible connection 7a, which is connected to the other end of the same, would be unwound from the sheave g3of the drum or hub g, which is on that side of the machine, and the said drum or hub g will thus be caused to rotate on the spindle c against the strain of the spring g5. The initial forward movement of the drum or hub g in the direction indicated by arrows marked on Figs. 9 and lO will carry the friction-ringf7f5.3 in the same direction, and the cam-slots flo, acting on the pins fu, will throw the free ends of the pawls into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-ring f6. As the ratchet-ringf6 is positively driven or carried by the hub or drum g and as the pawls are carried by the hub b2 of the rear or traction-wheel b, said wheel b will thus be given its propelling motion. Under the upstroke of the foot and pedal the spring g3 will IIO wind up the chain 7c onto its sheave g3 and will give the drum g a rotary movement in a reverse direction from the movement of the wheel b and parts carried thereby. This reverse movement of the drum g or, in fact, any movement thereof in the same direction with said wheel, but at a slower speed, will pull back on the friction-ringflfS and carry the free ends of the pawls f4 out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-rin g f G, thus rendering the said pawl-and-ratchet device silent in its action. The friction-ringflf8 engages the annular ledge fw of the hub g with a very light friction, and hence after it has shifted the pawls from one position to the other it will readily slip over the annular ledge fw, whichitfrictionallyengages. Underthepedaling action a great part of the downward strain on the pivot`studs n will be taken by the tension-rods o. As the drivin g-levers are pivoted approximately at their centers and in the vicinity of their centers of gravity, their ends are nearly counterbalanced, and hence the springs g5 may be of quite light tension. It is of course important to have the springs g5 of as light tension as possible, inasmuch as these springs resist the downward movement of the pedals. The use of the toe-clips or skeleton slippers applied to the pedals also relieves the springs g5 of a good deal of their work, especially when running` fast, as they prevent the rider from losing his pedals under quick upstrokes.

It is important to note that the rear ends of the levers n are curved, so that they will iit over the winding-drums and extend to points diametrically opposite to points forward which are intersected by lines drawn through the centers of the drums and the centers of the cooperating lever-pivots. This permits the lieXible connections 7c to be wound entirely onto the drum.

That we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

l. In a cycle, a clutch device involved in the propelling mechanism and comprising, pawls carried by one of the clutch-sections, a ratchetwheel carried by the other member of said clutch-sections, and a spring friction-ring split at one point only and connected to said pawls or operating thereon, and frictionally engaging the clutch-section which carries said ratchet-wheel, or a part movable therewith whereby the use of independent springs is obviated, substantially as described.

2. In a cycle, a clutch device involved in the propelling mechanism and comprising pawls carried by the traction-wheel, a loose drum or hub provided with the cylindrical ledge fw, and the split friction-riugflfs, the cylindrical flange of which f rietionally engages said ledge f12 and the vertical flange f8 of which is connected to said pawls by means of cam-slot and pin connections f1 j, substantially as dcscribed.

3. In a bicycle, the combination with the traction-wheel, of the pawls f4 pivoted on said fiangesf and provided with the stop-surfaces f5 for engagement with said rims f3, the loose hubs or drums g provided with the ratchetteeth]66 and cylindrical ledgef, and the split friction-ringflfs, the cylindrical flanged portion]CT of which frietionally engages said ledge )C12 and the vertical auged portion of which is connected to the cooperating pawls f4 by means of the cam-slot and pin engagements flo andf, substantially as described.

4. In a cycle, the combination with the fixed spindle c, of the wheel-hub Z22 provided with ball-runways b5, the hubs or drums g provided with the ball-runways g and g2, the doublefaced cone h mounted on said spindle c with freedom from both sliding and rotary movements,the single-faced cone-bearing h' mounted for sliding movement on said spindle c, and the bearing-balls h2 workin g between the said ball-runways and the cooperating cones, substantially as described.

5. In a bicycle, the combination with the vibrating foot-operated driving-levers and the traction-wheel, of a foot-operated brake involving the friction-wheel p on the hub of the traction-wheel, the segmental brake-shoe p3 Yprovided with the stop-lug 194,' the spring-arm p secured to the machine and provided with the stop-surface p5, the bell-crank lever p provided with the foot or heel piece p and subject to the action of the retracting-spring p10, and the rod p8 connecting the free ends of said brake-shoe p3 and bell-crank p6, substantially as described.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combinationwith vibrating driving-levers provided with pedals at their forward ends, of a pair of foot or heel rests supported from the machine-frame in position to be readily engaged or stepped upon when the heels are turned inward with the feet on the pedals, and a brake device involving an operating-lever provided with a heel-piece normally standing over and slightly above one of said foot or heel rests, whereby the rider may operate the brake while standing on said rests and pedals, substantially as described.

7. In a bicycle of the character described, the combination with vibratiu g driving-levers provided with pedals at their forward ends, of heel or foot rests located in position to be readily engaged or stepped upon when the heels are turned inward and the feet are on the pedals, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we atiix our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

EDWARD M. RUNYAN. MERRIT'l G. POND.

\Vitnesses:

HARRY Krnoonn, F. D. )[ERCIIAN'I.

IIO

IZO 

